Best Shimazu Strategies? Tried the Board Game?

[Maeda Toshiie]

1. I don't like to use the Geisha. Feels cheaty.

2. I don't like to use the port raid "function". Feels cheaty (also).

3. A less cheesy way is to use guns. Still considered to be cheesy by some though.

Shimazu economics, WE/MI version:
Build ports, in every province. Not only are they good at moving troops, they provide quite a bit of income (200 per turn per province). Even if you do not use guns, accept trade and build portugese trading posts (200 per turn per province). Next is to get churches out and a cathedral. The tithes add to your income.

There are only 3 provinces on Kyushu worth building farmland improvements (and they are in Imagawa hands initially).

Troops:
Smash the Imagawa as quickly as possible before turning onto the Mori. Ignore Shikoku first. Appropriate the iron sands provinces of the Mori and train troops from there.

[Ordani]

Once you consolidate Kyuushuu there really isn't too much to the game. Push up through Iyo/Tosa to Kawachi, then go after whichever of Oda or Mori you aren't allied with. The key to beating Hojo or Uesugi holding key mountain provinces like Omi or Shinano and using those as fulcrums to push their forces back. It will be bloody, but as long as you're fighting in their breadbasket the outcome is almost inevitable.

For example, a large army in Shinano pins troops in something like 5 northern provinces that can not be used to defend the eastern river lowlands. Taking it should be a priority.

If you're having trouble with the Hojo Hordes, try suckering the AI into bloody river battles to thin out his numbers by leaving small garrisons of naginata and lots of archers. You might lose the province, but that's fine if he's taking 3-4x losses to make it happen.

I believe my best Hojo defanging happened in Musashi (playing as Takeda) wherein I managed to kill on the order of five thousand troops, Lord Hojo and two heirs over the autumn and winter campaigns. I lost most of my own army to do it, but the Hojo fell and I cleaned up the rest of the clans within the next 10 years.


As for the boardgame, if it's the same thing as Samuari Swords with a different name, it's quite good and I had a lot of fun with it in college before some jerk ninja'd my box.

[Drisos]

Shimazu economics, WE/MI version:
Build ports, in every province. Not only are they good at moving troops, they provide quite a bit of income (200 per turn per province). Even if you do not use guns, accept trade and build portugese trading posts (200 per turn per province). Next is to get churches out and a cathedral. The tithes add to your income.

There are only 3 provinces on Kyushu worth building farmland improvements (and they are in Imagawa hands initially).

Troops:
Smash the Imagawa as quickly as possible before turning onto the Mori. Ignore Shikoku first. Appropriate the iron sands provinces of the Mori and train troops from there.

I would say, conquer the Imagawa lands, create improved farmlands in Hizen. Conquer Shikoku, build mine in Iyo and improved farmlands in Sanuki. And I would then go for the Mori conquering. (I used nagato as 2nd hq.. train naginata and heavy cav out there - not naginata's anymore since I patched to 1.02 though..) but that's just me.

And one thing about Cathedrals: you can only build one, normally. Gather a lot of cash and a few citadels, and start a few cathedrals the same turn. Doing this you will be able to create two or even more cathedrals, which will deliver some nice koku

[Sasaki Kojiro]

And one thing about Cathedrals: you can only build one, normally. Gather a lot of cash and a few citadels, and start a few cathedrals the same turn. Doing this you will be able to create two or even more cathedrals, which will deliver some nice koku

I remember doing that and only getting the koku from one cathedral?

[NodachiSam]

Hmm. How much does a Cathedral getyou? I've never really bothered because of province loyalty and me having a tempered fondess for buddhism and shintoism.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Hmm. How much does a Cathedral getyou? I've never really bothered because of province loyalty and me having a tempered fondess for buddhism and shintoism.

200 koku per church.

[NodachiSam]

Wow, that could add up. I guess I'll have to give it a try.

[Drisos]

Be shure to have some shinobi and low taxes

I was never really into using arq's. They have a lot of power, but I didn't manage to make them shoot more then 50% of the battles. They were even worse then archers in melee, and I didn't want to miss my Warrior Monks. So since my Shimazu campaign I never became christian anymore. I always welcome my ancestors the Dutch though

[Togakure]

200 koku per church.

200 koku per church--and including all the churches in Japan, not just the ones in your provinces. If several enemy clans go Christian in a campaign and start building churches, the economic incentive to build a cathedral increases significantly.

I am under the impression that once you build one cathedral, the option to build cathedrals no longer appears in your building options. Hence, only one is possible. It's been a while since I've played SP though, so I could be mistaken.

As far as musket productions goes, I prefer the Gun Factory option. It takes an investment and a province with Port and Armory to build, but I like the +1 Honor and +1 Armor that muskets get (these bonuses are particularly nice for muskets). And, if you're playing Oda, they get an extra +1 Honor as they are Ashigaru. I should clarify that the +1 Armor bonus comes from the required Armory, not the Gun Factory itself.

Muskets aren't really needed in SP though. If I have them in an army, it's usually just a couple of units, which I use to inflict morale penalties on key enemy units at key points in the battle, or to draw out the enemy from a staunch defensive position. When I use muskets against the AI as I do in MP, SP battles become too easy, and hence, boring. I'm also usually 80% finished with a campaign by the time muskets become available unless I'm diddling around on purpose to enjoy super units (which, granted, is fun to do sometimes).

[Ludens]

And, if you're playing Oda, they get an extra +1 Honor as they are Ashigaru.

Didn't the Oda get a discount (as opposed to a honour bonus) on ashigaru?

[Drisos]

I remember doing that and only getting the koku from one cathedral?

hmmm. I could be mistaking of course, but I really thought I have more money doing this... Well I don't have time to check now.. Anyone busy with a christian campaign?